THE Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) cracked the whip on three erring jockeys and suspended them for one year each for their questionable performances in various stakes races last July.
Jockeys Jerome Albert Saulog, Dahlwill D. Pagar and Maximillian Pichay were slapped with the stiff suspensions as part of the Philracom’s mandate to keep the races fair and clean.
“This is for the protection ng betting public,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez. “As a new member of the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities), the Philracom wants to make sure that horseracing in the Philippines is held at the highest level.”
Saulog was initially handed a 72-racing day suspension by the Manila Jockey Club Inc.’s Board of Stewards for his questionable performance atop Fly Like an Eagle on July 22 at the MJC’s San Lazaro Leisure Park.
A probe by the Philracom followed and in a decision handed last Aug. 9, the commission found out that a mere review of the video of the race showed that the actions of Jockey Saulog constitute a violation of the Rules and Regulations of Horse Racing PR 76.QQ, which states that “For deliberately losing the race either by easing, pulling and/or stopping his mount without any justifiable reason at any point in the race, wherein the Board of Stewards determines that the horse still has a chance of winning the race: One-year suspension and the horse shall be elevated to the next higher group.”
Saulog’s act of not urging and whipping the horse at the crucial parts of the race and merely holding the reins and/or pulling the same demonstrate his intention to lose the race. Saulog was successful in doing so as the horse finished second in the race.
On the other hand, Jockey Pagar, who was initially slapped with a 36-racing day suspension by the MJCI-BOS for his performance atop Caravaggio during a July 12 race, also at the San Lazaro Leisure Park, got the same one-year suspension from Philracom for the same violation.
The Commission found out that Pagar’s intention in riding Caravaggio was to lose the race based on his admission, actions and the observation of the MJCI-BOS, hence the one-year suspension.
Pichay, who was first suspended by the MJCI-BOS for 24 racing days for his questionable performance atop Caravaggio in a July 7 race at the San Lazaro Leisure Park, got the same one-year suspension (violation of PR 76.QQ) from the Philracom, which found out that he deliberately lost the race by easing and pulling his mount without any justifiable reason.
“Jockeys should be reminded of their crucial role in the racing industry. As one of the stakeholders and main players, the performance of the jockeys should be beyond reproach and free from any doubt to protect the horseracing industry,” the Philracom decision emphasized.